An alert and oriented patient presents with shortness of breath, crackles in both lungs, jugular venous distention, and edema to the feet and ankles. Her pulse is 132, respirations 26, blood pressure 160/86, and SpO₂ at 88%. Based on this, the EMT should suspect:

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The patient presents with classic signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure such as shortness of breath, crackles in both lungs, jugular venous distention, and edema to the feet and ankles. The elevated heart rate and blood pressure can also be indicative of this condition. Additionally, the low SpO₂ level indicates that the patient is not getting enough oxygen, which can be a result of a buildup of fluid in the lungs, another indication of congestive heart failure.

An Alert and Oriented Patient Presents with Shortness of Breath